Webasto air duct / fuel pump silencing

Surprised at so many peeps are concerned about noise.

My old Eber D1 was very noisy indeed, no way could I sleep with it running.

I have just replaced it with a recon Webasto 3500, supplied with all the bits and bobs by David2452 of this parish. It's in my 28' Colvic Watson. The heater is in a cockpit locker with insulated ducting to the saloon and heads, very few bends in the ducting. The pump is in the engine bay.

I can honestly say that is as near to silent as makes no difference, just a very slight hiss from the vents but you need to turn the radio off to hear that. In fact I put my hand over a vent to check it was working the first time I fired it up. No silencers fitted anywhere.

Maybe for the first time ever I got something right! :-)
 
David2452 said:
For your neighbors sake as well as your own, you should have an exhaust silencer, next step is a combustion air intake silencer, then last consider a duct attenuator but do the back pressure numbers before considering one of those. After that, more beer and ear plugs.
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Thanks David. I shall take your advice and cease trying to get my own back on the generator owners:)
 
The variety of comments here confirm my observation over the years, Webastos create intrusive noise levels from the cabin warm air outlet but their exhaust noise is tolerable. The reverse is true for Ebbers.
 
A bit difficult on something that's already fitted but useful thing to bear in mind if doing a DIY install to keep the noise to a minimum (as Sophie 19 found) is to use large duct, I use 90mm or even 100mm even if it makes things a bit difficult. Slows down the rush and makes a big improvement. Wallas achieve their legendary quietness it by having two outlets from the heater which reduces the air speed as it's split between two, even then they use 75mm.
 
jonjo5 said:
The variety of comments here confirm my observation over the years, Webastos create intrusive noise levels from the cabin warm air outlet but their exhaust noise is tolerable. The reverse is true for Ebbers.
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I am sure you are right but all I can say is my Webasto is almost silent, the exhaust is just audible on a still day and the warm air vents are quiet enough to sleep by.

I think David 2452 has hit the nail on the head, larger diameter ducting equals slower air flow, less turbulence so less noise. Volume, hence heat, remains the same.

My old Eber had a very small diameter duct and was very noisy indeed.
 
jonjo5 said:
The variety of comments here confirm my observation over the years, Webastos create intrusive noise levels from the cabin warm air outlet but their exhaust noise is tolerable. The reverse is true for Ebbers.
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All heaters perform at acceptable noise levels, both in and outside when the heater, exhaust, pump mount and air distribution are correctly designed and installed, your observation simply confirms my observation that they are more often than not, anything but.
 
savageseadog said:
Use bungee cords to "hang" the pump in a suitable position. On a boat you obviously have to allow for movement in all directions.
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I found the bulkhead the pump was mounted on was acting as a sounding board, I bonded some polystyrene to the bulkhead then some ply to that, then I mounted the pump to that ply.
That made a huge reduction in pump noise
 
Pics of the fuel pump, looks like it has a vibration mount already. Bluechip your solution sounds a good plan, I'm sure the fibreglass it's mounted on is amplifying the tick.

fuel_pump1.jpg


fuel_pump2.jpg
 
Your pump shouldn't be horizontal. It should be at an angle of 15 to 35 degrees(with the outlet higher than the inlet)to prevent air bubbles. Perhaps the noise is the pump struggling?

I'm no expert, so apologies if I'm leading you astray. That was how I installed my eberspacher(according to the instructions), your heater may be different. Although it will be a quick and cheap fix if I'm right.
 
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Actionmat said:
Your pump shouldn't be horizontal. It should be at an angle of 15 to 35 degrees(with the outlet higher than the inlet)to prevent air bubbles. Perhaps the noise is the pump struggling?

I'm no expert, so apologies if I'm leading you astray. That was how I installed my eberspacher(according to the instructions), your heater may be different. Although it will be a quick and cheap fix if I'm right.
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You are indeed leading him astray, the pump should be mounted horizontally as it is, the exception is petrol heaters where the outlet should be slightly higher, though the pump connecting block should be at the bottom not the top as in this picture, nor should the pump supply cable be encased in that trunking with the fuel pipe. The picture also shows the silver pump which is intrinsically a bit noisier than the red ones supplied with Thermo Top C, I love those. The standard quiet (yea right) mount in the picture is not all that good and will be transmitting noise, I would use some softer method of mount like the Mercedes rubber cradle with two slings, or cobble something up, it is important though that the pump not be allowed too much movement.
 
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David do you have a link or part number for the Mercedes mount? I'm coming up blank with my searches for one.

David2452 said:
You are indeed leading him astray, the pump should be mounted horizontally as it is, the exception is petrol heaters where the outlet should be slightly higher, though the pump connecting block should be at the bottom not the top as in this picture, nor should the pump supply cable be encased in that trunking with the fuel pipe. The picture also shows the silver pump which is intrinsically a bit noisier than the red ones supplied with Thermo Top C, I love those. The standard quiet (yea right) mount in the picture is not all that good and will be transmitting noise, I would use some softer method of mount like the Mercedes rubber cradle with two slings, or cobble something up, it is important though that the pump not be allowed too much movement.
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I bought some 90mm / 60mm insulation. I can't do the whole run, some of it goes through inaccessible areas but I'm sure it will help keep temp up to forward cabin.

The 747 sound lasted for approx. half an hour when I switched heating on in mornings. This was on the middle 'normal heating mode' setting and about 22C.

Are the TC3 modules easy to install? I have the MC04 heating controller, is it plug and play? I like the idea of remote starting the heating while I'm driving down.
 
Anders_P42 said:
I bought some 90mm / 60mm insulation. I can't do the whole run, some of it goes through inaccessible areas but I'm sure it will help keep temp up to forward cabin.

The 747 sound lasted for approx. half an hour when I switched heating on in mornings. This was on the middle 'normal heating mode' setting and about 22C.

Are the TC3 modules easy to install? I have the MC04 heating controller, is it plug and play? I like the idea of remote starting the heating while I'm driving down.
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Piece of cake, I fit quite a lot for live aboards with hectic lifestyles, works fine with the MC series controllers, I normally wire them direct to the W bus but a plug and play loom comes with it, sadly instructions are only for Therm tops and Thermo Evos.
 
David2452 said:
Piece of cake, I fit quite a lot for live aboards with hectic lifestyles, works fine with the MC series controllers, I normally wire them direct to the W bus but a plug and play loom comes with it, sadly instructions are only for Therm tops and Thermo Evos.
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I read somewhere there's an external temp sensor for TC3. Is this only used for the text message replies of current temp, or is it used as reference for heating? There's already a temp sensor in the Saloon, not sure if this is the same? I'd plan to install the TC3 under kitchen sink close to existing heater controller.
 
Anders_P42 said:
I read somewhere there's an external temp sensor for TC3. Is this only used for the text message replies of current temp, or is it used as reference for heating? There's already a temp sensor in the Saloon, not sure if this is the same? I'd plan to install the TC3 under kitchen sink close to existing heater controller.
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It's only for use as a monitor or frost / fire alarm text reporting. The TC3 unit can be mounted anywhere provided the antenna cable will reach somewhere you can get a signal and it can be connected to the diagnostic plug so as to use the W bus. Or you can also connect it to the MC04, the instructions are not much help but I have some schematics.
 
David2452 said:
It's only for use as a monitor or frost / fire alarm text reporting. The TC3 unit can be mounted anywhere provided the antenna cable will reach somewhere you can get a signal and it can be connected to the diagnostic plug so as to use the W bus. Or you can also connect it to the MC04, the instructions are not much help but I have some schematics.
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Thanks for info. Under kitchen sink will be ok for signal and close to MC04. If you have schematics that would be a big help.

I suppose I can be super lazy and switch on heating from bed with TC3 installed :)
 
Insulation installed. I didn't bother with the run to heads, I won't be using shower on boat.

I've ordered TC3, hope to install that next weekend.

Saloon
saloon.jpg


Port cabin area
bunk_cabin_forward.jpg


bunk_cabin.jpg


bunk_cabin_aft.jpg


Forward cabin
forward_cabin.jpg
 
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